Black Stork Nest in Karula, 2021

[Heloise]

It's nice to watch these beautiful birds and read your opinions.

By the way, don't you think Karl II did more gymnastics last year?
I saw him stretching out very often, now very rarely, almost not.
I hope he doesn't get old!

[Swenja]

By the way, don't you think Karl II did more gymnastics last year?
I saw him stretching out very often, now very rarely, almost not.
I hope he doesn't get old!

15:29:29 Karl II heard you. I think that Karl II always does this stretch when he can rest and doesn't have much to do.

[Heloise]

15:29:29 Karl II heard you. I think that Karl II always does this stretch when he can rest and doesn't have much to do.

Thanks!

[aquiline]

Hello, Anne7

Good to have you back. I was starting to worry. Hope everything is fine and you enjoy all the nice pictures our "colleagues" postet meanwhile.

A big Thank You to everybody

[Anne7]

Hello, Anne7

Good to have you back. I was starting to worry. Hope everything is fine and you enjoy all the nice pictures our "colleagues" postet meanwhile.

A big Thank You to everybody :wave :

That is very kind of you, aquiline.
I've had a bit of a difficult time, and just when I was starting to feel rested, I got my first Corona vaccine, and now I'm quite bothered by the side effects.
It's going to be all right!

I am very grateful for all the fine work that has been done here.

[Swenja]

16:34:31 stretching



16:38:00 Karl II sings.
16:38:32 Kaia comes to the nest. Karl II lies down. Kaia touches him with her beak. Karl II stands up.
16:42:45 mating

[Heloise]

16:34:31 stretching

https://up.picr.de/41042111iq.jpg

16:38:00 Karl II sings.
16:38:32 Kaia comes to the nest. Karl II lies down. Kaia touches him with her beak. Karl II stands up.
16:42:45 mating

Thank you!
It's a beautiful stretch I remember!

Now we are waiting for the egg again...

[Anne7]

Thank you!
It's a beautiful stretch I remember!

Now we are waiting for the egg again...

Heloise

If I counted well, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Kati laid her first egg exactly 8 days after appearing on the nest.
In 2016 already on the 7th day.

Kaia arrived on April 12th, eleven days ago.
So she is a bit later. Maybe because the matings were not (immediately) successful, and less frequent?
Or maybe because her hormones were (or are) not yet ready for ovulation?

16:38:00 Karl II sings.
16:38:32 Kaia comes to the nest. Karl II lies down. Kaia touches him with her beak. Karl II stands up.
16:42:45 mating

Kaia's arrival.
16:38:05 Karl II had already noticed her.


16:38:30 There she is.


16:38:50

[aquiline]

.... I got my first Corona vaccine, and now I'm quite bothered by the side effects.
It's going to be all right!

You're welcome, Anne7 Me too, I experienced these side effects, however, everything is better than Covid-19. So be positive

[Swenja]

17:32:10 Kaia sits in the nest. (for 10 seconds)



17:38 It's raining.

18:12:56 mating

18:28:24 Karl II watched the raindrops on Kaia's feathers and nudged Kaia.



19:51:22 mating

[Heloise]

Heloise

If I counted well, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Kati laid her first egg exactly 8 days after appearing on the nest.
In 2016 already on the 7th day.

Kaia arrived on April 12th, eleven days ago.
So she is a bit later. Maybe because the matings were not (immediately) successful, and less frequent?
Or maybe because her hormones were (or are) not yet ready for ovulation?

Glad you're back, Anne7!
And Swenja
Thanks for the nice photos and comments!

Didn't 14 days pass last year when Kaia laid her first egg?
Must check. Please correct if you know.
You may be right about Kaia...

[Anne7]

Glad you're back, Anne7!
And Swenja
Thanks for the nice photos and comments!

Didn't 14 days pass last year when Kaia laid her first egg?
Must check. Please correct if you know.
You may be right about Kaia...

Thank you, Heloise

I don't remember exactly how long it took Kaia to lay her first egg last year.
But it was definitely more than 8 days. You may be right that it was about 14 days.
And there was also an unusually long time between the two eggs.
She was not yet fully sexually mature last year, I suppose.
Probably it will be more 'normal' this year. At least I hope so

Edit: I looked it up. Last year Kaia arrived on the nest on May 1st, and the first egg was laid on May 14th. So that was exactly 14 days later...
You remembered that very well!

The second egg was laid on May 18th.

[Heloise]

Anne7, thank you

I still want to hope for the better year!

I didn't have time to follow all the time, but here are some photos from tonight.
There was nothing special to notice: dancing, cleaning, doing some nest work (both), admiring each other

[Heloise]

20:13 Kaia and Karl II are still both in the nest.
Kaia is sleeping, Karl II is on the curved branch



20:31



20:43 The same sight in the nest.... the night has arrived

21:05 Our nice couple is sleeping...



Good night!

[Swenja]

Both are in the nest and will spend the night together.
It gets cold at night in Karula National Park.

Thanks to everyone for the pictures, timeline and comments!

@ Anne7 I wish you good health!

[Heloise]

Both are in the nest and will spend the night together.
It gets cold at night in Karula National Park.

Thanks to everyone for the pictures, timeline and comments!

@ Anne7 I wish you good health!

[Tatiana60]

Good night, everyone.

Anne7, You mast to get more antibodies, we must be patient. Indeed, it is worse to get sick (I was ill and recovered for almost 3 months, but now with antibodies)... I wish you good health.
Thank you all for reporting.

The main thing that I liked today is that Kaia is in charge of the nest and behaves calmly, remains in the nest without a loved one, and returns herself. And Karl II sometimes lies down in the nest, and Kaia, apparently, nature tells them that it is time for the eggs to appear......

Let's hope for the best. Maybe tomorrow there will be an egg.

[Liz01]

April 24

Good Morning everyone!

thank you all for reporting and pictures!

4:53 (first time visible) Congrats to the first egg my fingers are crossed for a successful brood.

[Liz01]

5:22 Kaia is still laying on the egg.. Karl II stands next to her
5:23 It starts snowing. This year we have a real April


5:31 Kaia opens her eyes every now and then

Karl was on the egg


now Kaia for a short time

[visit]

Hello all together

Thank you for the reports and pictures !
Congratulation Liz, that you've seen the egg ! :)
Just saw it. Great ! Let's see how many will follow...
Keep on fingers crossed ;)

edit: My personal opinion: If Kaia sits down on Karl II, then I associate this behavior with juvenile black stork behavior. Urmas estimated Kaia to be 2 years old last year. Then she is now in her third year. (3 years old) She may not yet have mature couple behavior. This instinct may not be fully developed yet.

Thank you Swenja for your opinion !
May be a juvenile behaviour, yes. Still am a little wondering.
*still miss a little bit Kaias mother/hatching instinct - think, already can be seen with this first egg.
but at the moment (5:40) both don't seem to be mad on hatching it, they stand besides while some snowflakes are falling on the egg...

Best wishes
visit